Speaker Forum: What Can You Do About Climate Change?

Amherst, MA – Even as Washington, D.C., steps back from dealing with climate change, the Center for EcoTechnology and its partners are moving forward to help people and businesses take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For the past 40 years, the Center for EcoTechnology, a nonprofit based in Northampton, has helped people and businesses save energy and reduce waste, resulting in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the local environment. CET’s new speaker forum, “What Can You do about Climate Change?,” is set for this Saturday, June 10, 1-4:30pm at Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West St, Amherst, Mass. The event is free and open to the public.

The Speaker Forum will feature local environmental leaders Ezra Markowitz, Nancy Nylen, and Solomon Goldstein-Rose. These speakers will discuss innovative and tangible solutions to the various challenges associated with climate change through psychological, political and community-based strategies. This event aims to bring people together to talk about climate change and what people can do about it in their daily lives.

Join us in learning from Ezra Markowitz, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Decision-Making, as he provides insights from the behavioral sciences. He will be speaking on promoting pro-environmental behavior while maintaining choice. Markowitz states that “We can use the insights into human decision-making offered by the behavioral sciences to significantly improve the efficacy of efforts aimed at improving the everyday environmental choices we all make.” Markowitz will discuss four decades of research by psychologists and economists that reveal insights into behavioral shifts towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly choices. He will also highlight key considerations and strategies that can be used to support better environmental decision-making.

Mr. Markowitzworks in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research and teaching focus on the intersection of decision-making, persuasive communication, public engagement with science and environmental sustainability. He is the author of over 20 peer-reviewed research papers, book chapters, and reports, including the 2015 Connecting on Climate guide to climate change communication (written in collaboration with colleagues at the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions and ecoAmerica). At UMass Amherst, Markowitz teaches courses on Environmental Decision-Making, Conservation Social Science, and Public Engagement and Communication for Scientists.

The Associate Director of the Center for EcoTechnology, Nancy Nylen, will speak about clean renewable energy. She will describe the many exciting clean, renewable energy options available to people of all walks of life in western Massachusetts and beyond. Nylen will also talk about how we got to this point, and where we’re going, but her primary focus will be on the practical, affordable steps we can each take to reduce our dependence on polluting, non-renewable technologies in our daily lives – at home, at work and in our communities.

Ms. Nylen has been at the Center for EcoTechnology since 1982, where she has developed and delivered educational and technical assistance programs for all sectors of the community, including farms, schools, businesses, non-profit organizations and residents. Her focus is on local solutions to environmental issues that are beneficial to the economy, natural environment and quality of life for community members.

This speaker forum will conclude with Massachusetts State Representative, Solomon Goldstein-Rose, explaining the state policy for clean energy technologies. This will include discussing bills that are currently in front of the legislature, how the state will need to take action on climate and environmental issues for the next 4 years, and actions people can take at the local and state level to advance these policies.

Mr. Goldstein-Rose is serving his first term as the State Representative from the 3rd Hampshire District. At 23 years old, he is the youngest current member of the MA legislature. In addition to advocating for his district, he views his unique role in the House as “…pushing for bolder legislation and systemic change, always trying to get bigger picture bills on the agenda.” Representative Goldstein-Rose serves as a member of the Joint Committees on Higher Education; Housing; and Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. He also serves on the House Committee on Personnel and Administration.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged. For more information, please check out our Facebook event. We hope to see you there!